Get the latest movie theater news!

Closings

HAMILTON, OH — The sad saga of recent closings by AMC of former Kerasotes properties continues. November 28 was the last day for the Hamilton 10. Kerasotes had acquired this former bargain cinema when it was known as the Danbarry Dollar $aver Cinema and turned it into a first run house.

The Northwest Washington Boulevard theater, called AMC Hamilton 10 for the past 6 months, “was identified as a theater that no longer competed effectively in the marketplace,” said Justin Scott, director of public relations for AMC.

“No decisions have been made yet about the building’s future,” Scott said.

MARION, OH — The Southland Cinema 7 operated by Regal since 1994, was closed on December 5. The theater was located at the Marion Centre Mall, which is facing foreclosure proceedings in January.

Regal Cinemas decided not to renew its lease, which ends in December, and to vacate the 1415 Marion-Waldo Road site, Gallagher said. The company has operated the movie theater since 1994, when it expanded it to a seven-screen cinema complex. The theater opened under the operation of Cinema Centers Corp. of Boston.

She said she did not have information regarding whether Regal Cinemas had any plans to open a theater elsewhere in the Marion area. She said she had no response to whether her company’s decision to close the cinema was related to the mall being in foreclosure.

VERNON HILLS, IL — It appears that AMC has closed the curtain on Rivertree Court Cinemas in Vernon Hills. According to the Vernon Hills Review, the theater will be converted to a Gordman’s department store.

Rivertree Court was opened in 1988 by the now defunct Cineplex Odeon chain and had the distinction of being one of the few Chicago area theaters left with the original CO decor. It was closed once before by Loews Cineplex in 2000, before Kerasotes purchased and reopened it in 2001. After AMC purchased Kerasotes earlier this year, the writing was probably on the wall as AMC also purchased the Showplace 8 (also in Vernon Hills) which is much newer.

The last day of shows was Thursday, December 2nd. Among the last features shown were “The Last Three Days”, “Due Date”, “Secretariat”, “Skyline”, “Life As We Know It”, “The Social Network”, and “Morning Glory”.

CHARLESTON, IL — Another in a recent series of theaters closed by AMC has occurred in this eastern Illinois town. The Will Rogers, which opened in 1938 and which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, closed quietly on November 28.

The theater just off the courthouse square in Charleston was popular with locals and Eastern Illinois University students through the past seven decades. But like many smaller theaters, it was losing financial ground to multi-screen movieplexes, DVD rentals and Internet downloads.

“I really liked the small-theater atmosphere,” said Cuddy, who expects to transfer his work to another AMC facility. “I’ve been here for three years. It was my first job.”

SEATTLE, WA — Another classic movie theater will close soon in the Emerald City. Landmark Theatres has announced it will cease operations in February at the historic Neptune Theatre which opened in 1921. The lease will be picked up by the Seattle Theatre Group (STG) which will take out about five hundred seats and use it primarily as a venue for live performances, though STG says that films will still be occasionally shown.

The Seattle Theatre Group will spend about $500,000 on renovations, including updated restrooms and removal of about 50 percent of the theater’s floor seating, according to a spokeswoman.

The Neptune will reopen in spring of next year. Films will still be shown on occasion, but the venue will primarily be used for live performances.

HARRISBURG, IL — Another small multiplex acquired from Kerasotes is being closed down by AMC. The last day for the Cinema 4 was November 28. The theater had been operating since 1971.

With the Harrisburg theater closed, moviegoers will now have to drive about a half an hour to catch the latest release on the big screen. Many people were buying tickets Wednesday night, but employees told News 3 the week nights are typically pretty slow. Still— AMC told employees there was a long-term plan.

“In June they said that in five years if our profits have gone up we were going to get a brand new theater,” said Smith, “And if not, they were going to shut us down. And it kind of came as a shock, here it is six months later.”

SMITHFIELD, RI — Having been served with an eviction notice, the eight-screen Apple Valley Cinemas has closed. The theater, located in the Apple Valley Mall, originally opened as a triplex in the later 1960’s and has had a number of operators over the years.

KENNETT, MO — Another former Kerasotes property that was acquired by AMC has closed. The single screen Cinema formerly the Palace, was closed as of November 28. The theater has been a landmark in Kennett since sometime in the 1920’s.

Justin Scott, director of Public Relations, for AMC Theaters based out of Kansas City, Mo., says, “AMC continually upgrades the quality of our theater circuit by adding new screens and by disposing of older screens through closures and sales. We do, however, look at our theaters on an individual basis, Unfortunately, the AMC Kennett One has be identified as a theater that no longer competes effectively in the marketplace and will close at the end of business on Nov. 28.”

It will be hard to imagine a Kennett without a movie theater, as the Palace, as it once was called, has been a familiar landmark located on First Street in Kennett since the early days of the 1900’s.

“AMC continually upgrades the quality of our theatre circuit by adding new screens and by disposing of older screens through closures and sales. We do, however, look at our theatres on an individual basis,” said AMC Entertainment spokesperson Justin Scott. “Unfortunately, the AMC Plaza 3 has been identified as a theatre that no longer competes effectively in the marketplace and will close at the end of business on Nov. 28.”